Sadra

Our inner empire

A palestinian friend just back from Israel was furious at a falafel stand sign in Tel Aviv that said, "Come taste the national dish of Israel."

"Habibi," she wanted to tell the owner, "you claimed my land, and now you claim my falafel!?

Iran's inner empire can't hear a song as beautiful as the one in the Rashid Behbodov video and not want to claim it as her own.  An empire fights for cultural ownership, it does not disposesses itself. The Azeri culture in Iran is ours, and so is all the Arabic in Farsi. After all the pain we suffered amassing enough peoples, languages and cultures for a sophisticated nation, no way we would let ourselves shrivel back into individual ethnicities.

divaneh

you are the wisest contributor on IC!

tender, real sense of humor and above all you make sense, by far!

thanks a lot 

-Jaan-Nesar Fatollah AriaeeNejaad used to be Minbashian

Unbelievable!

JJ writes, "Azari, Kurdish, Arabic and other languages spoken in Iran are just as valid as Persian... Let's have more diversity, not less."

WHO ARE YOU???????

Are you freaking kidding or are you intentionally trying to stimulate this thread? Arabic and Azari are just as VALID as Persian in Iran? That's treason, far beyond asinine! And by the way, your kind of "diversity" means the death of Iran, pure and simple!

We can be tolerant of other languaes, but to say that they are just as "valid" as the national language of Iran is ludicrous! I mean, is Persian or Kurdish just as valid as English in America????????

Little Tweet

It was JJ who wrote, "Don't betray your "Aryan" ancestors in favor of Anglo-Saxons :o)))"

Do you undestand English, little bitter birdie? Anglo-Saxon IS an Aryan language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One more thing, JJ

Your America analogy is a farce.

As Sohraby aptly point out, we chose to come to America, so the least we should do, is abide by their rules and customs. Iran has its own rules and requirements. In fact, Iran desperately needs a unifying language, because, if we all act like individualistic mules, doing and saying as we wish, which is what JJ proposes, then we will gradually erase our Persian identity, and thus, destroy our unity.

As it is, the Arab-speaking majority in Ahvaz want to change the name of Khuzestan, which has been called Khuzestan since Cyrus the Great, to "Arabistan." This is a crime against Iran and its national security, and slowly but surely opens the door to future shananigans by foreigners, the British mainly, who already call the Persian Gulf, the "Arabian Gulf." Their ultimate goal is to turn a very oil-rich region (Khuzestan) into the next "Palestine," where the West could champion the cause of "Ahwazi Arabs" against the "Chauvanistic Persians," and try to separate Khuzestan from Iran.

This is already a very real threat within the UK, where there are many supporters of this very sinister scenario, one of which is a morally depraved journalist by the name of Peter Thatchell, who writes for the UK Guardian.  

In fact, the Soviets tried very hard for a very long time to promote the idea that "their Azerbaijan" should unite with the "Iranian Azarbaijan" to form an independent Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan! What a farce! We all know what that would mean to Iran if it was ever separated from the resource-rich land of Azarbaijan.

In fact, the Russians deliberately changed the name of this territory that was historically called "Aran" to Azerbaijan, simply to promote the deceptive idea of a unification of a Soviet Azerbaijan (formerly Aran) with Iranian Azarbaijan. They knew that if Iran lost Azarbaijan, it would be akin to losing its right arm.

Language is crucial in this calculas. A unifying language reduces the chances of a separtist movement, manipulated by foreigners! Iran has way too many enemies, foreign and domestic, for us to walk down this dangerous path. We should safeguard our hereditary language so as to safeguard our nation's borders. We should have one unifying language in Iran so as to provide the necessary glue to keep our nation from falling apart. Not to mention the fact that some Baluchis in Baluchestan, under the influence of foreigners, also want their own Republic of Baluchestan.

Having said all that, I acknowledge that we can't have a language police inside people's homes, but we can regulate what we speak in public. 

A nation of languages

Whilst I agree that we need a unifying language to allow us to communicate with each other, there is nothing in our history to show there has ever been a language that was spoken by all Iranians. What we know as Persian Empire was a collection of different ethnicities paying their taxes to a central government in return for protection and development. Not then, not later and not even now we are able to speak to every other Iranian. Which of you have never come across an Iranian who cannot speak Farsi? But this divergence in language seems to be counter-balanced by convergence in culture, and that’s what makes this country beautiful.

All languages evolve and so does Farsi. Put the invading, raping Arabic to one side, and there are still plenty of Indian and European words in our language. And JJ is right, that’s the case with every live language. English don’t seem to bother that the contemporary English is not what Shakespeare used in his plays. It is only the conservative Iranian who wants to purify and reverse the progress. Languages that did not evolve and did not borrow are only confined to old scripts.

And the prize for the biggest BS goes to....

"Ramin Parsi" for his ability to connect English to Persian without using the 6 degrees of separation.

JJ

Your comments are pure asinine! I hope you know this -- by the way, just to educate you, "Anglo-Saxon" is a member of the Aryan language family, as is Persian, so for a nationalist like myself, I rather speak another dialect of Aryan (English), which was separated from Persian around 7,000 years ago, than speak a semetic lanuguage like Arabic ,or a Turkish/Mongolian language like Azari, which was forced upon us at the point of a knife.

Again, as I mentioned earlier, and as Veiled Prophet has repeated, the ancient language of Azarbaijan was Persian. That's a fact! Everything changed after the bloody invasion of Ghanghiz Khan and the Mongols. Today, they Azaris speak a Mongolian language, as does present-day Turkey.

How is it racist to say that we shouldn't be promoting a foreign tongue on our soil that was FORCED upon us by an invading army of killers and rapists?

under true Government of Kiaan...

Oh Goody! We have Kiaan himself on the site to guaranty the rights of ethnic minorities. We can all become vazeer vakeel Akh joon!

To call this language of shame, "Al Farsii" as "Persian Parsii"

is not only a grand distortion but a conjob fed to us by Arabo Ommatie elites , Pan-Arab supremists & shaikhak crowd . Al Farsii, The current Arabic infested garbage of a language you all speak today is nothing but a mere Arabic dialect . Calling this incoherent & ugly language as "Persian" is not only a hoax but borders act of treason for those who promote it as such to keep it in this status quo form .

& JJ; if working to purify one's language from mediums of historic oppression & genocide(Arabic words) and to reclaime her/his true identity/heritage/icons makes one an ethnic cleanser then count me in pal . You go again with your cliche feel good sermons & high school logic ::)).

Maa bacheh Basra nistim, Rostam tanha bemaanad ;)

Cheers!!!

My appology to my Azarii ham-mihan blogger for semi disruption ; Yes under true Government of Kiaan all ethnic groups including Turks and Arabs are free to promote their languages among themselves provided they adhere to principles of Kiaan, True Iran under Drafshe Kaviaan. thx for the blog &Best wishes

Path of Kiaan Resurrection of True Iran Hoisting Drafshe Kaviaan //iranianidentity.blogspot.com //www.youtube.com/user/samsamsia

Do not confuse purity of language with purity of nationality

or VatanDoosti. With all the Farsi speaking people the national movements like Mashrooteh may not have come to pass without the Gilaki and Azeri and Armenian who always were more comfortable with their language than Farsi. Remember our national heros Sattar Khan? Bagher Khan, Haj Baba Khan Ardabili, The Yeprem Khan Davidian and ......

JJ jan

Baaz ham maghlateh kardy! Did I say that I'm ashamed of using arabic word in my writing? Haven't you seen the cheshmak sign at the end of my comment ;-).

Again, what is the benefit of learning Turkic? Azari in not the right word, it is turkic, you made a maghlateh AGAIN.

It isn't a bad idea to get rid of Arabic words too, because it was/is forcefully added to our language.

Re: Maghlateh?!

Now that the topic is languages I have a suggestion. JJ is absolutely right that we should not use Arabic :-) I am glad you came around and saw the light.

Sohraby is also right about Arabic. Our language is badly infected. 

If I may suggest a solution:

1) Here is a book in English that has old Persian words that we can use to replcace Arabic. It is name: "A cConcise Pahlavi Dictionary". Here is the link:

//www.amazon.com/s/qid=1260910893/ref=a9_sc_1...

2) If you prefer it in Persian, there is a book named "Vaze-Name Pazand". But you have to get it from Iran. It is available so you can find it.

3) There is also an online place but I don't have the URLbut it is there.

Reminder

Sohraby, that's exactly my point. There's no shame in using the word "maghlateh" or any other Arabic word we happen to use when we speak Persian.

There is no pure Persian language, even in the Shahnameh. There is no pure English, French, Arabic or Chinese. We have all borrowed words from each other.

This blog is an invitation for non-Azaris to learn Azari. As simple as that. It is not a call for destroying Persian or to divide Iran.

JJ jan

Our language is badly infected with Arabic ;-)

What is tolerance? giving up your own values and norms?

Arabic and Turkic language are the products of the rape which took place (1400 years ago for arabic / and 900 years for turkic) in Iran and can not be seen and consider as our Iranian heritage.

Yes,  Every nation that respects and protects minority languages is a more tolerant and vibrant society, but what when a minority with its language becomes the majority, what then? What will happen to the original language of the country?

Maghlateh?!

Sohraby, how dare you use an Arabic word?! Shame shame shame.

diversity vs division

Diversity in a nation is a source of strength. It lets us build upon each others strengths. Gifts of various people combine to create a stronger and healthier society.

Division is when everyone wants to go their own way. First great nations split into tiny country. Next countries break into tribes and so on.

There is no question that when areas chose different primary languages they risk division. This does not always happen as Switzerland; Iran; India; China and so on prove. However sometimes enemies try to exploit such issues to "divide an conquer". Sometimes it works much to the detriment of the people. The most recent example is  breakup of Yugoslavia.

To learn a language is different than to embrace it as a part of your identity. I may learn French but  am not about to become French. People who live in a country would benefit if they embraced their national identity rather than sticking to tribal loyalties. We all see the results of the latter in Iraq and Afghanistan. So by all means learn whatever language you want. But a member of a nation needs to have a national identity. If not the nation is in  real danger of division and all the problems it brings.

We are in love with our

We are in love with our language(like all people in the world who love their language) because is a part of our identity and as I see some of Iranian- born non-iranians are against this LOVE!

Who said that we  can't stand others speaking something else?

JJ jan, kam avordy, and trying to do Maghlateh!

To your  question, We are speaking in English because the sign on the left side of your site says in English"IRANIAN.com" and other reason is that we(most of us including you) are living in an english speaking country. change the sign of your site and also your mentality to Iranian one then we would be glad to write in our language.

PS: English is an internationnnnal language and most of people know english, but not your suggested languages like Azari, Arabi or Kurdish.

JJ,  usually those who lose a debate start misleading others and drawing attention from the main topic and ideas to the BS like racism, intolerance etc. Why you? There is no need for it.

Language of tolerance

Yes Veiled Prophet of Khorasan, it's common practice for any nation to have a national language. That is not the issue. The issue brought up on this page is whether "Persians" (or anyone) should tell others that they are speaking the "wrong" language.

Azari, Kurdish, Arabic and other languages spoken in Iran are just as valid as Persian and they are part of our heritage. Every nation that respects and protects minority languages is a more tolerant and vibrant society.

There's no such thing as a wrong language. They speak hundreds of languages and dialects in India. Who speaks the "correct" one?

Let's have more diversity, not less.

Personaly

I don't care what languages any body speaks, it doesn't take any thing away from me. but keep in mind that learning languages like Arabic and Turkish is learning the language of occupiers. so if you like to be a serf go for it. you have  my blessing.

Good for people who speak Azari

I wish there was a way I could learn the language. The above site is helpful but practicing with actual Azari speaking people would be better.

Azari zabani shirin ast.

Haydar Baba by Shahriar:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VGGHbWhGHs

JJ Jan!

1) My point was that it is good for everyone in a nation to master language. In US it is English in Iran Persian; in Saudi Arabic and so on. Since I live here in the US I speak English.  However in talking to my parents I speak Persian.

2) No one; not me anyway is talking about banning any languages. You know how I feel about banning things :-}

3) As for Aryan; I think the Anglo Saxons are close enough and pas :-) We have had to drop our standards in recent times! So pretty much anyone who gave us a bolt hole from the Islamists gets a pass!

Persians speaking English :o)

And you "Persians" who are so in love with your language that you can't stand others speaking something else, here's a question for you:

Why are you speaking English? Have you forgotten you pure mother tongue? Or is English more acceptable than Azari, Arabic or Kurdish?

Now think about that before you respond in English again. Don't betray your "Aryan" ancestors in favor of Anglo-Saxons :o)))

Sohraby: You're so right, I

Sohraby: You're so right, I know this to be true from personal experience.

Yashasan Sadra

Azerbeijan oghli Iran oghlidi. O toprakhdan galan o topragha jan verar

To veiled prophet of Khorasan

درود بر تو هممیهن، درود بر خانواده اندیشمند و اگاهت

As you said "honoring our culture is called racist",.it is easier for some people to insult and accuse us of being racist instead of getting rid of their hostile and prejudice view toward us Iranians.

Hitler Irony

It was pre-Islamic Persian people who rescued the Jews of Babylon. King Koroush the great rebuilt the temple. 

The Islamists want to "wipe" out Israel. Just like Hitler tried to do. I have never heard a nationalist Persian want to wipe anyone out.

Now nationalist Persians are being compared  to Nazis! While Islamists are given a free pass by some. Pretty ironic. Maybe instead of worrying about languages they should require everyone to learn history.

speaking of racism and intolerance

You better start reading the history and know us Iranian/Persians. As I see your other half brainwashed you very badly. How about reading and learning about the pre-islamic Iran in which Iranians/Persians ruled the world so benevolently without forcing others to speak in their language and forcing them to practice iranian/ Persian religion. 

Tolerance and respecting other's rights was,is and will remain an important part of  Persian/Iranian values and  culture. If you are blind and ignorant to see this fact then it is your problem. Fix this problem by doing some reading!

No, Hitler was not bad in  compare to Arabs and Turks who invaded our country and forced us into their religion and language. Read the history before opening that .......

Finally!